UW Gameday: Notes, quotes, and links

Five of Oregon’s final seven opponents beat the Ducks earlier in the season, a string that started with Oregon State and the Ducks avenged that loss with a 93-83 win on Sunday.

Next up is the Huskies, who beat Oregon 80-76 in Seattle last month.

“They are a better team, we are a better team, so it should be a better game,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said.

To get you prepped for the game, here is my preview in today’s R-G with some info on the message Altman preached to his team this week about honoring the senior class. There is also an interview with Johnathan Loyd on that link. Here is the Press Box previewing the Washington and Washington State visits this week, and here is a story I wrote earlier this week about what Oregon has to play for the rest of the season. Finally, my Pac-12 notes today looking at Arizona suddenly in a battle for the conference title.

Not everything fit into print this week, so I will pass along some blog extras here.

Oregon’s biggest challenge tonight is likely stopping C.J. Wilcox, who had 23 points and five three-pointers in the win over Oregon last month. Wilcox has struggled in his last three games, but is third in the conference in scoring.

“Wilcox was really a load for us that night,” Altman said. “He hit a lot of shots and was the difference in the game. Hopefully we can slow him down a bit. You will not stop him. He is a real good athlete and they run a lot of good stuff for him.”

Looking back on the first match-up, Altman said “I like the way we guarded him, but when he got open looks, he hit them. We have to be more attentive. We can’t give him anything in transition and have to do a better job on the picks they set for him. It will be a combination of all our wing players, a lot of people will be involved.”

Damyean Dotson will likely start the game on Wilcox.

“You have to make him uncomfortable when he gets the ball,” Dotson said. “Stay focused and watch film, know what he is going to do.”

Altman has switched his starting line-up in recent games, but figures to stick with Waverly Austin, Mike Moser, Johnathan Loyd, Josephy Young, and Dotson after that group got the Ducks off to a 31-12 lead against Oregon State.

“If we start like the other night, that would be real good,” Altman said. “Not many games where you start 7-for-7 on three-pointers.”

Loyd was the starting point guard to begin the season, but was replaced in the middle of the year by Dominic Artis. Loyd was starting again against OSU and Altman talked about juggling the minutes with those two. Artis has two points in his last two games, but four assists in each of his last thre games. Loyd had 11 points and five rebounds against OSU.

“It is a good combination,” Altman said. “D.A. is a good player, we have to get him comfortable where he can make some plays. His assist to turnover ration has been really good the last few games and is doing some good things. Johnny is doing some good things. There is not a lot of difference between them.”

Loyd will be wearing his facemask to protect a broken nose again this week, but hopes to shed it soon.

“I have to wear it the next two games,” he said. “I am getting more and more used to it. It is still annoying. I am always fidgeting with it, I can’t stand it.”

Jason Calliste will likely be the first player off the bench again for Oregon and Altman praised his work in that role. He is shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 51.2 percent on three-pointers.

“If they had a sixth man of the year, Jason would definitely be a candidate,” he said. “He has been great off the bench and that shows his unselfishness. A lot of guys worry about starting, Jason just wants to play. His shooting percentage in conference and nonconference games have kept us in a lot of games.”

Lastly, Oregon’s next win will be the 500th of Altman’s career.

“I was hoping to get that about a month ago,” he said. “Hopefully, we get to that quick.”

Steve Mims covers Oregon football, men's basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. He has been a sportswriter at the paper since 1999 and covered high school sports while also reporting on Oregon football in the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl as well as men's basketball during their Elite 8 run in 2007 and trip to the Sweet 16 in 2013.